Wake board OKs job protections for teachers

The Wake County school board on Tuesday approved a plan to provide locally many of the due-process rights for teachers that state lawmakers removed with legislative efforts to eliminate tenure.

Changes made in state law in 2013 prevent any additional teachers from earning career status, also called tenure. But Wake’s new policy says teachers with at least five years’ experience, but no current tenure eligibility, could only be fired for one of 15 specific reasons.

Reasons include inadequate performance, immorality, insubordination and neglect of duty.

Those teachers would also receive written reasons for their firing and could request a hearing before the school board.

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The policy drew praise from Larry Nilles, president of Wake NCAE, which represents the district’s school employees.

“It is ever regrettable that we have to seek local solutions to bad state legislation,” Nilles said during public comment. “But it’s exciting that you all are taking action.”

Enloe cap approved

Also on Tuesday, the board approved a plan to control crowding at Enloe High School for the 2015-16 school year by placing an enrollment cap on the Raleigh school.

New families who are moving into Enloe’s attendance area face being sent to Athens Drive or Broughton high schools. Athens Drive was added as an overflow option after Broughton parents complained that taking all the Enloe newcomers would crowd their school too.

In January, the board approved enrollment caps at 10 other schools for the coming school year.